Parliament speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia has admitted that he did meet former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad but only talked about current political issues, not his purported resignation.
Utusan Online reported Pandikar Amin as saying such a meeting was not uncommon because the former prime minister was a mentor and guru to the country's leaders.
"This is a meeting between leaders. The discussions were obviously what is happening in the country.
“But when he said I wanted to quit, it could be because I was disappointed with Parliament which nowadays touches on many trivial matters.
"I have my disappointments. That was what I voiced out to Tun. But I have made a press statement yesterday that I am not quitting.
“On when did I meet Tun, that you have to ask him yourself," he was quoted as saying by the Malay news portal in Kota Belud, Sabah today.
Malaysia's longest serving prime minister dropped a bombshell yesterday when he said Pandikar Amin, who was appointed as Parliament speaker after the 2008 general election, has quit and his duties will be undertaken by his deputy.
"He came to see me. He said he does not want to carry on, so now the speaker is his deputy," Dr Mahathir said at a forum in Ipoh, Perak.
The statesman, however, did not disclose reasons behind the speaker's decision.
Pandikar Amin’s alleged resignation has been a subject of much speculation as rumours swirled that he was unhappy with the way Putrajaya conducted its business in the Dewan Rakyat.
Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia
Sittings had been pushed into the small hours to ensure that bills were passed with many MPs from the backbench and opposition expressing unhappiness over such practice.
However, Pandikar Amin's deputy Datuk Ronald Kiandee as well as minister in charge of Parliament Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim had dismissed Dr Mahathir's claim.
Pandikar Amin also refuted the claim, issuing a brief three paragraph media statement last night.
“I have not resigned as parliament speaker as how it was reported by certain quarters. I will be on duty as the speaker when Parliament reconvenes for the second time this year from May 18 to Jun 18.”
He also said he will be chairing the swearing-in ceremony of the new Rompin and Permatang Pauh MPs as well as other matters in the Dewan Rakyat as scheduled tomorrow.
He added that he would also chair the debate on the 11th Malaysian Plan by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on May 21. - TMI
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